Door operating mechanism



July 11, 1933. c. s. PIDGEON DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHFLRLES S. Pmeeom.

ATTORNEYS,

July 11, 1933. c. s. PIDGEON DOOR OPERATING .MECHANISM Fild May 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 11, 1933 CHARLES s. PIDGEON, or AKRQN, OHIO DOOR QIPERA'IING MECHANISM Application filed May 12,

This invention relates to door operating mechanism and more particularly to mechanism for operating garage doors.

The general object of the invention is to provide inexpensive, foolproof and eflicient door operating apparatus. U

It is also an object of the invention to provide. means for connecting the operating mechanism with the doors so that the force of the operating mechanism will be applied to the doors in the most beneficial manner to move the doors.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of improved means forlimiting the opening and closing movement of the doors.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the apparatus illustratcd in the accompanying drawings and de- 913 scribed below, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details thereof shown and described.

In the drawings: v Figure 1 is an elevation of the garage doors looking from the inside of the garage;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the doors illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of Figure 1 taken on line 3-3 thereof; r I Figure 4 is a plan view of the operating mechanism embodying the invention; Figure 5 is aside elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 4;

Figure '6 is a sectional View taken on line 66 of Figure 1; and. i Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the control wiring of the operating means.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 8 indicate a pair of doors, such as garage doors, I which are hinged at their sides as at 9 to door frames or ambs 1Q. Secured to each of the doors 8 by brackets 13 and 14 are, U- shaped, resilient metal members 15. The, brackets 13 are formed with round holes to receive the member 15,- but the brackets 14 receive the member in slots 16 as illustrated in Figure 3. T he legs of the U-shaped member 15 are offset relatively to each other, as shown in Figure 2, so that the upper leg carried in the slot 16 of the bracket 14c is normal- 1y near the middle of the slot (Figure In order to connect the doors with the operating mechanism hereafter described, links 17 55 are provided which are connected to the ends 1930. Serial No. 451,593.

shaft 20 extends through the door and can be rotated from the outside of the garage by a handle 23 secured thereto. A lock is preferably provided on the handle 23 to prevent undesired entry to the. garage in this manner. A spring clip 21 or other suitable supporting means is provided tofsupport the link 17 during the opening of the door in this manner.

The operating mechanism comprising the.

invention is illustrated in Figures 41:, 5 and 6 andmcludes a base channel 2 Lwhich is socured to the ceiling of the garage by any suitable means (not shown) which are best adaptinstallation. I

A'reversible motor'25 "fixed to one end of ed to meet the requirements of the particular the upper side of the channel 24 drives a screw 26 journaled in bearings 27 and located at the bottom side of the channel. Suitable gearing, such as a pinion 28 secured to the motor shaft and a gear 29 fixed to the extending end of the screw 26, mayserve to complete the drive between the motor and the screw 26."

Carried by the screw 26 and in threaded engagement thcrewith'is a cross-head 30, to the outer extending ends of which are 'pivot-. ally attached, asat 33, the links 17 which are connected to the doors. The cross-head 30 is formed so that the side flanges and bottom of the channel 241 serve as guides for the crosshead, thus the screw. r

A three-armed lever 34, 3'5 and 36 having a central hub 37 isipivotally secured to the side of the channel 2 1 adjacent the motor 25 by a shouldered bolt 38. The arm 34 of ti o lever is pivotally connected with a rod 39 which extends slidably through a post 40 secured to the other end of the channel 24.

A collar 43 adjustably secured to the rod 39 is adapted tocooperate with a U-shaped fork 4: 1 integral with one end of the cross-head 30 as the cross-head nears the outward end of its travel, to rock the three-armed lever. A

preventing accidental'bending of spring 41 may be provided between the post 40 and collar In the inward movement of the crossehead 30, the three-armed lever is rocked by a screw 45 adjustably secured to the cross-head, which screw contacts with the arm 36 of the three-armed lever. T

The arm 35 of the three-armed lever is pivotally attached to one end of a dashpot 46 which comprises a cylinder 47 filled with a liquid 48 and having a piston 49 which makes a loose fit therein. The other end of the dashpot 46 is pivotally connected to one end of a metal strap 50 which is pivotally secured as at 53 to a bracket 54 fixed to the channel.

Fixed to the middle of the strap 50 is a piece of brake lining 05 which cooperates with a drum 56 on the motor shaft when the three-armed lever is rocked.

The downward movement of the dashpot is limited by a stop bracket 51 fixed to the channel 24, which stop engages with the strap 50.

A gutter 57 is preferably mounted on strap iron 60' below the channel to prevent drippings from the operating mechanism falling upon the car or other articles in the garage. ,Thegutter may be hinged as at 58 and normally held up on the other side by a pin 59 received straps 60. i I

Figure 7 illustrates the control circuit for the motor 25. The motor, in the embodiment in, aligned holes in the of the invention described, is a reversible re-' pulsion induction motor having starting leads S and running leads R. The motor is controlled by one or more switches 63 which are placed in parallel as shown when more than one switch is used. The switches are of a standard type well known in the electrical art and comprise a hand knob which may be turned from (off) to either F (forward) or R (reverse). The switch itself contains an overload coil which, if the motor is overloaded, causes the switch to kick out and causes the knob to return to 0 (off) position. The switches maybe placed where desired,but one is usually mounted adjacent the drive. in which position it can be oper ated without leaving the car. Another switch may be placed in the house or on the outside of the garage. V

The operation of the mechan sm is as follows:

When it is desired to open the doors, either of the switches 63 are thrown-to F (forward) which may be marked Open and the "motor 95 is energized and rotates the screw 26-to move the cross-head 3O outwardly.

The links 17 connected from the cross-head to the. upper legs of the U-shaped members tend to swing the doors open. The slots 16 1 in the brackets 14 allow the upper legs of the T U-shaped members 15'to move therein so that the actual force exerted 'by the links 17011 the door is transmitted to the bottom there of by the spring or resiliency of the U-shaped members 15. While the drawings illustrate the application of the force to the bottom of openmg movement of the doors.

the doors, the invention also contemplates applying it to the center of the doors rather than at the bottom, or at both. Applying the force at the bottom of the doors insures a smoother operation thereof as in a vertically hinged door binding most usually occurs at this point due to the sagglng of the door. It

may be that the doors are rather tightly is connected to braking straps by the dashpot 46, the upward movement of the lever causes the brake lining carried on the strap 50 to be forced against the drum 56. Further outward movement of the cross-head only increases the braking force between the drum 5G and the lining 55 so that the motor is overloaded and the switch 63 kicks to the off position to stop the motor and the outward As the brake is still applied to the motor shaft at the time the motor is cut off, there is no coast to the motor which is desirable in that the closing and opening limits of the door movement can beaccurately adjusted.

To close the doors, either of the switches 63 may be thrown to R (reverse) which may be marked Close, thus reversing the motor to begin to move the cross-head 30 back or inwardly. The motor can be reversed as the braking force applied through the dash'pot 46 has receded or vanished as the liquid 48 in thedash pot has flowed by the loose fitting piston 49 shortly after the brake is first applied. This downward movement of the piston 49 in the cylinder 47 during the equalization of pressures on opposite sides of the piston is limited by the stop bracket 51. Thus as the cross-head 8O begins to move inwardly and carries the fork 44 away from the collar 43, the cylinder 47 will fall by its own weight to move the three-armed lever and rod 39 to their original positions. The spring 41 will assist the cylinder 47 in this movement. It will be seen that in this operation the piston 49 does not move downwardly because the strap 50 rests on the stop 51, but that the cylinder 47- slides down on the piston, the liquid 48 moving past the loose fitting piston as will be understood.

The dashpot 46, the rod 39 and the threearmed lever are thusn'ioved to their original position soon after the cross-head 30 begins its inward movement so that the cross-head approaches its limit of inward movement and the screw 45 carried thereby engages with of verticall the arm 36 of the three-armed lever. Farther inward movement of the cross-head applies the brake to the drum 56 through the agency of the dashpot 46 which overloads and abruptly stops the motor as before by kicking oil the switch 63.

In the closing movement of the doors, the Ll-shaped members 15 function as before to apply the force initially at the bottom of the doors and then, if necessary, at the top as well.

By adjusting the screw and the collar 43 the opening and closing limits of the door movement can be adjusted. I he length of the links 1'? may, of course, be adjusted.

If for some reason, such asthc failure of the electric current, the operating mechanism" would fail to function, the doors may be opened by turning the handle 28 on the outside of the doors which will rotate the disk 19 and pull. the pin 18 out so that it no longer connects the link 17 and the upper leg of the U-shaped members 15 which will allow the door to be opened by hand. The other conncctingpin 18 can now be removed also. so

that the other doormay be opened.

lVhenit is necessary or desirable to oil the screw and its bearings, the pins 59 holding the gutter 57 up may be removed peruniting-it. to swing down so that grease cups or other lubricating means (not shown) in the bearings 2'?- and cross-head may be replenished. I

lVhile the invention has been particularly described with respect to garage doors, it will be apparent that the principles thereof applicable broadly to doors of all kinds. Moreover. even though thoinvention is primarily do: good. for the operation of a pair I and oppositely hinged swinging doors, by slight modifications it could be .used to operate singledoors which are either slida'ole or are other than vertically hinged.

The mechanism is simple, it has few wearing parts, which parts needlubricatmg but rarely, it is foolproof and efiicient and the operating force is applied to the doors'in' the most effective manner.

\Vhereas many changes could be made in the construction and application. of the invention other than those described above,it is intended that all matter contained in the above dc; ription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted; 'l-

' lustrative only and not in limiting sense.

tions of them vention can be resorted to without departing Accordingly,various modifies.

from the spirit thereof or appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln mechanism f r operatnlg a vertically hinged door, the combination of operating means secured above the door," and connecting means between the door and the operating means so constructed and arranged as to the scope of the apply the force of the operatingmeans initially'to the door at a point remote from the top thereof andupon failure of such initial force to move the door-to apply an added force to the door at the top thereof.

2. In mechanism for operating a door, the combination of an operating member po sitioned adjacent one radially :disposed edge of the door, and means connecting the door and the operating member, said connecting means being so constructed and arranged as to apply the force of the operating means initially tothe door at a point remote from said radially disposed edge and upon failure of such initial force to move the door, said connecting means applying an added force to the door adjacent said radially disposed edge.- j

3. In mechanism for operating a door, the combination of operating means secured adjacent one radially disposed edge of the door with means connecting the door and the operating means, said connecting means applying the force of the operating means initially to the door at a point remote from said radially disposed edge, and. means in said con necting means for applying an additional force to the door ad acent said radially dis;

posed edge upon failure of the initia ly anplied force to move the door.

l. In mechanismfor operating a door, the combination of operating means secured ad-'- j acent one radially disposed edge of. the door with means connecting the door and the oper-, ating means, saidxconnecting means applying the force of the operating means initially to the door at a point remote from said radially disposed edge andupon failure of such initialjforce to move the door, said connecting means applying an added force to the door adjacent said radially disposed edge,-said connecting means including a U-shaped memher, the base of the U being connected parallel with and adjacent the hinges of the door, one leg of the U being fixed tothe door and the other leg having limited movement with respect thereto.

' 5. In combination, a vertically hinged door, a U-shaped member-secured to said door,-.lhe base of the U being swivelly car- U being swivelly carried 1 parallel with and adjacent the hingesof said door, one leg of sa1d U bemg secured to the door, the

other leg of the U being carried in a slot in a bracket fiXedto sa1d door, operating-means] mounted adjacent said door, and means connecting the operating means with said last named leg. e

7. In combination, a door, a U-shaped member secured to said door, the base of the U being swivelly carried parallel with and adjacent the hinges of said door, one leg of said U being secured to the door, the other leg of the U being carried in a slot in a bracket fixed to said door, operating means mounted adjacent said door, said operating means including a screw, an electric motor for reversibly rotating said screw, a cross-head carried by said screw, means for braking said motor at the ends of travel of the cross-head to overload and stop the motor, said braking means being operated by a dashpot, and

means connecting said cross-head with the last named leg'of the U-shaped member.

8. In combination, a door, a U-shaped member secured to said door, the base of the U being swivelly carried parallel with and adjacent the hinges of said door, one leg of said U being secured to the door, the other leg of the U being carried in a slot in a bracket fixed to said door, operating means mounted adjacent said door, said operating means mcluding a screw, an electric motor for rotating said screw, switch means for, controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, a cross-head carried by said screw, means for braking said motor at the ends of travel of the cross-head to overload and stop the motor, and means-connecting said cross-head with the last named leg of the U-shaped memher.

9. In combination, a door, a U-shaped member secured to said door, the base of the U-shaped member being hinged to said door,

one leg of the U-shaped member being fixed to the door and the other leg having limited movement with respect thereto, a screw j ournaled adjacent said door, means for reversibly rotating said screw, a cross-head engaging with said screw,'connecting' means between said cross-head and said last named leg of the U-shaped member, and braking means for overloading and stopping said screw rotating means when the door has reached its fully open or closed positions.

10. In combination, a door, a U-shaned member secured to said door, the base of the U- shaped member being hinged to said door, 7

one leg of the U-shaped member being fixed to the door and the other leg having limited movement with respect thereto, a screw journaled adjacent said door, means for reversibly rotating said screw, a cross-head engaging with said screw, connecting means between said cross-head and said last'named leg of the U-shaped member, braking means for overloading and stopping said screw r tating means when the door has reached its fully openor closed positions, and a dashpot associated with said braking means for automatically releasing the braking force thereof.

11. In combination, a door, a screw journaled adjacent-said door, a motor for rotating said screw, switch means controlling the direction of rotation ofsaid motor and screw, a cross-head carried by said screw, means connecting said cross-head and said door, and braking means adapted to be applied to the motor shaft at the opened and closed positions of the door to stop the motor,-said braking means including a dashpot adapted to automatically release the braking pressure after the motor has been stopped.

12. The combination with a door, of power driven means for opening and closing the door, and brake means adapted to be applied to said power driven means as the door is moved into its opened and closed positions,

I door, means mounted adjacent the top of the door for applying a moving force to the door, and means connected to said first-named means and to the door adjacent the top thereof and extending down a face of the door to a point remote from the top of the door to transmit said moving force to said door normally at said remote point only, and thereafter to apply said force to thejtop of the door if it does not open under the force initially applied.

14. In combination, a vertically hinged door, a screw journaled adjacent the top of said door, a motor for rotating said screw, switch meanscontrolling the direction of rotation of said motor and screw, a: crosshead carried by said screw, means connecting said cross-head and said door for applying the moving force to the door normally locally at a point remote from the top thereof, said means extending to the top of the door and down a face of the door to said point and adapted to apply said force to the top of the door upon its failure to open under the force applied to the bottom thereof, and means .for stopping said motor in the open and ingthe moving force to the door at a point remote from the top thereof, said means ex tending to the top of the door and down a face of the door to said point and including a lost-motion connection with the top of the door, and braking means adapted to be applied to the motor shaft at the opened and closed positions of the door to stop the motor.

CHARLES S; PIDGEON. 

